Buipe Floods: How 73-year-old physically challenged is surviving

When the flood waters swept through the Buipe community in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region, almost every activity in the industrial town was greatly affected.

One category of people bearing the brunt of the devastation caused by the floods are persons living with disability (PLWDs).

Businesses and other human activities were brought to a halt.

An escalation in typhoid and malaria cases have also been reported with health officials describing it as alarming. Properties worth millions of Cedis have been lost. Men, women, young and aged as well as the strong and weak are all bearing the brunt of the floods.

But worse of it all is the suffering it has brought upon PLWDs.One of such is 73-year-old Kwame Alex. Kwame’s home was inundated by the flood waters. His family have all moved to a safe haven provided by the Central Gonja District Assembly. But due to his condition, he could not immediately move with them.

3news.com‘s Christopher Amoako caught up with him at his residence where the water level was inches away into his room.

With a teary face, he narrates his frustrations.

“Today, I feel sorry for myself for being a physically challenged person. Those who are strong are running but look at me I can’t do anything about what I’m going through,” he revealed.

Kwame, who has been diagnosed of typhoid by health officials at the Buipe hospital, is left with no hope as he struggles to buy his medication prescribed for him.

“Worse of all is that I have been diagnosed of typhoid which I need to buy some medicines but I don’t have money for that drugs.”

He appealed for support. “I am appealing for support.“

Paramount queen mother of Buipe, Barikisu Mankir, believes the plight of Buipe flood victims is not taken serious.

“We really feel neglected. Buipe was flooded before Mepe but all attention is on them. Meanwhile we are more affected so yes I’m not happy.”

Paramount chief of the Buipe Traditional Area Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II expressed worry over the level of devastation and burden the situation has brought on residents.

He says he has provided several acreages of land for victims to begin relocating, starting November to avoid future reoccurrence.

In September, the Buipe community in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region was inundated by flood waters from the Black Volta.

Over 7,000 residents have been affected. School children have been compelled to run a make shift system.

Source: 3News.com